Adjustable bearing-box.



. PATENTED JUNE 9, 1903.,

, 0. S. WALKER. ADJUSTABLE BEARING BOX.

APPLICATION PILEDMAEJZG, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented June 9, 1903.

ADJUSTABLE BEARING-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N 0. 730,808, dated une 9,1903.

I Application filed March 26, 1902. Serial No. 100,094. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OAKLEY S. WALKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at \Vorcester, in the countv of Worcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Adjustable Bearing-Box, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of bearings which can be set up oradjusted to compensate for wear.

The especial objects of this invention are to provide a strong, simple,and inexpensive form or adjust-able bearingin which the same deviceswhich are employed for adjusting the size of the bearing will also actto secure the bearing-box rigidly in place in its sleeve.

To these ends this invention consists of the adjustable hearing, ashereinafter described, and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims atthe end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a fragmentary sectional viewillustrating the application of my invention to the bearings of agrinder. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same, taken on theline 3 3. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 2. Fig. 4: is aperspective view illustrating the application of a lubricating-ring to asplit box constructed according to this invention; and Fig. 5 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 2, illustrating a slightly-modified form ofconstruction.

In many different kinds of n1achines-for example, in emery grindingmachinery-it is desirable to provide adjustable bearings which maybetaken up to compensate for wear. Constructions which have heretoforebeen employed for taking up the wear of bearings have ordinarily beenobjectionable on account of their comparatively expensive constructionand for the reason that in most of the constructions which haveheretofore been employed it has not been feasible to maintain perfectalinement for the bearings of the shaft.

The especial object of the present invention is therefore to provide asimple and inexpensive form of adjustable bearing in which the samedevices which are employed for adjusting the size of the hearing willalso serve to clamp the bearing-box in fixed position in its-sleeve orbarrel. To accomplish this object, an adjustable bearing constructedaccording to my invention comprises a sleeve or barrel within which thebearingis housed, a split box, a key or stop for preventing the box fromturningin the sleeve, a wedge, a stop for limiting the expansion of thesplit box by its wedge, and means for setting in said wedge to expandthe box to the desired size and clamp the same in position.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated the application of myinvention to an emery grinding-machine. It is to be understood, however,that my invention is of general application and may be applied to manyother dilferent classes of machines from that herein specificallyillustrated.

Referring to the drawings and in detail, A designates the column of anemery grinder. Formed with the column A is asleeve or barrel B. Thesleeve or barrel B is bored or drilled out, so as to be provided with ahole of uniform diameter. Fitting into the barrel B are the split boxes11 and 12. Journaled in the split boxes is a shaft 120, having a pulley13 and collar 14 secured thereon. The split boxes and shaft are securedin place in the sleeve B by stop-collars 15. The construction of thesplit boxes and the devices employed for adjusting the same and clampingthem in position are similar, and a description of one set of suchdevices will therefore be sufiicient. As shown in Fig. 2, the boxesaresplined or slotted longitudinally, as at 18, and the sleeve B isprovided with slabbed ended screws or keys 19 to hold the split boxesfrom turning. Opposite the screws orkeys 19 the boxes are split and areprovided with recesses for receiving the wedges '20.

The wedges 20 may be set in by screws 21 to expand the split boxes. Theamount to which the split boxes maybe expanded is screws 21 willnot onlyserve to expand the split boxesfbut when said screws 21 are screwed inthey will also cause the wedges to clamp the boxes down rigidly intoengagement with the lower part of the sleeve 13, thus maintainingperfect alinement between the split boxes, no matter to what extent thebearings have to be taken up to compensate for wear.

Bearings constructed according to my invention may be lubricated oroiled in any of the ordinary ways. The drawings show a specialconstruction for securing a circulation of lubricating-oil through thebearings. It is to be understood, however, that these lubricating meansform no part of my present invention and that such means are not claimedspecifically herein.

As shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 4, the box or bearing 12 isprovided with a projecting bridge-piece 42, which extends across thespace between the split boxes 11 and 12 and forms a bearing for theunder side of the shaft 120. Inclosing the bridge-piece 42 and shaft 120is an oil-carrying ring 23, which hangs down into an oil-pocket P. Byhanging the oil-carrying ring 23 on the shaft 120 the travel of theoil-ring 23 will convey oil from the pocket P to the upper part of theshaft and the bridge-piece 42 will act as a gutter or trough fortrapping more or less of the oil, compelling the same to work its waythrough the bearings 11 and 12-that is to say, as distinguished from theordinary arrangement of oiling-rings my construction provides for thepositive circulation of oil through the boxes 11 and 12, as the oilwhich is carried onto the trough-shaped bridge-piece 42 can escape onlyby flowing out through the ends of the boxes 11 and 12. The oil whichworks out through the box 12 will be prevented from escaping by a flange24, and will be returned to the oil-pocket P through an oil-channel 26,while the oil which works out through the box 11 will be prevented fromescaping by the flange 25 of the collar 15 and-will be returned to theoil-pocket P by the oil-channel 27.

I am aware that numerous changes may be made in practicing my inventionby those who are skilled in the art without departing from the scopethereof as expressed in the claims. I do not wish, therefore, to belimited to the construction I have herein shown and described; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

1. The combination of a bearing-sleeve, a split box, a key holding thesplit box from turning, a stop, a wedge engaging the split box betweenits key and its stop, and means for actuating the wedge to expand thebox between its key and stop and lock the same firmly in place.

2. The combination of a bearing-sleeve, a

split box, a key preventing the box from turning, a stop-screw, a wedgeengaging the split box between its key and stop-screw, and a setting-inscrew for operating the wedge to expand that part of the split boxbetween its key and stop-screw to lock the same rigidly in place in thebearing-sleeve.

The combination of a bearing-sleeve, a split box having a keyway alongone side and a wedge-receiving recess along its opposite side, a key forholding the split box from turning, stop-screws, a wedge engaging therecess in the split box and located between the stop-screws and key,andsetting-in screws for operating the wedge to expand the box between thestop-screws and key and clamp the same into rigid engagement with thebearing-sleeve.

4. The combination of a bearing-sleeve, a split box, a key preventingthe split box from turning, a'wedge, stop-screws arrangedperpendicularly to the face of the wedge at opposite sides thereof fromthe key, and setting-in screws for operating the wedge to expand the boxand lock the same firmly in place in the sleeve.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

OAKLEY S. WALKER.

Witnesses:

PHILIP W. SOUTHGATE, LOUIS W. SOUTHGATE.

